A Romanian grooming gang led by a “winking, smirking pimp” have been jailed for raping and sexually abusing 10 women in flats across Dundee.

The four men and one woman plied their victims – aged between 16 and 30 – with drugs at various properties between 2021 and 2022.

Ringleader Marian Cumpanasoiu, 38, along with Remus Stan, 35, Cristian Urlateanu, 41, Catalin Dobre, 45, and Alexandra Bugonea, 35, were previously convicted of 30 charges at the High Court in Glasgow.

Cumpanasoiu was sentenced to 24 years, Urlateanu to 20 years, Stan to 12 years, Dobre to 10 years and Bugonea to eight years.

Judge Lord Scott told the gang they exacerbated the vulnerability of the young women.

He added: “I commend the women for taking back the control of their lives to the extent they have been able to do that.”

The judge said it would be a matter for the Home Office but it was likely the gang would be deported on completion of their sentences.

Three gang members – Urlateanu, Dobre and Bugonea – fled the country but were traced and extradited back to Scotland from Belgium and the Czech Republic for their trial last December.

Jurors in the six-week trial heard harrowing testimony about how the gang preyed on the women, most of whom were already troubled by personal issues.

Cumpanasoiu was found guilty of 10 charges of rape, while Urlateanu was convicted of six rapes.

Compansiou was also convicted of a charge under the Human Trafficking Act, by forcing a woman into prostitution, and two charges of brothel keeping.

Stan was found guilty of four rapes and Dobre found guilty of two rapes.

Alexandra Bugonea was convicted of one rape and illegal sexual activity with another.

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